You might file a protection order if someone has made threats to harm themselves or others with a firearm. As of April 2021, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington have the option to file an extreme-risk protection order.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you aren’t 100% sure that the threats are legit, it’s better to get the police involved too early than too late.
Currently, there are 22 states with background check laws. To see if your state is on this list, visit https://giffords. org/lawcenter/gun-laws/policy-areas/background-checks/universal-background-checks/. Studies show that comprehensive background checks for all firearm sales decrease gun violence by almost 35%. [4] X Research source
The term “assault weapons” can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In general, it means they have detachable magazines and can fire semi-automatically.
Experts agree that this ban wouldn’t stop mass shootings all on its own, but it’s a good start.
This is especially important if you’re a lawmaker or looking into local gun laws. Not all gun owners will commit mass shootings, and it’s good to keep that in mind.
As of 2019, the CDC is now getting federal grant money to research gun violence and study its causes and effects. [9] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
These organizations are all different, but most focus on education and research into gun violence.
You could also host a walkout at your school or workplace.
Studies show that fewer than 5% of mass shootings are actually done by people with a mental illness. [13] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Calling someone a “lone wolf” is a way to deflect the violence and terrorism they have commited. No one commits a mass shooting in a bubble, and blaming social isolation as the cause is often a way for lawmakers to avoid responsibility. [14] X Research source
